Runner attachment for baby-carriages.



E. A. THOMAS.

RUNNER ATTACHMENT FOR BABY CARRIAGES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15.1915.

Patented Nov. 2, 19l5 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@mu/nto@ E. A. THOMS.

RUNNER ATTACHMENT FOR BABY CARRIAGES.

APPLICATION m50 111,111.15. 1915.

Patented Nov, 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

RUNNER ATTACHMENT Fon. BABY-cnnnmcns.

annessa.

.speeineatien of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915..

Appneetien nea Nerea 15, i915. serial Ne. 14,387.

To all 'whom it concern:

Be it known that` 1,-EDWIN A. TnoMAs, a citizen of the UnitedStates,reeiding at Rochester,y in the ycounty of onroe State cfjNewYork, have invented certain new and useful nT inprovements in RunnerAttachments for Baby-Carriages; and I do position them for 'supporting avehicle and l to cause the wheels of the the ground. 4

Another object of the invention is to provides'nnply constructed andefficient means for locking the attachment in adjusted position.

With these and other objects in view, the

vehicle to clear invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will bemore fully. described and claimed. 4 l

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a .side elevation of acarriage equipped with this improved runner attachment shown in loweredoperative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the attachment inraised inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal Asection taken onthe line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a'.` transverse vertical section takenon the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated, a baby carriage is shown of ordinaryconstruction having the usual front axle A and rear axle Af extendingtransversely of the carriage body and connected by a body supportingframe- F which as here shown includes side bars B on which said axlesare mounted. The attachment constituting 'this invention comprises apair of rigidly connected ett runners 1 and 2 of any suitable or desiredcross sectional contour preferably of inverted T-shape in cross section.These runners 1 and 2 are shown curved upwardly attheir opposite endsand the ends of each runner connected by a longitudinal bar, those ofthe runner 1 being connected by a bar 3 and those of runner 2 by a bar4. These runners are of a length suited to the wheel base of a carriagewhich it is designed tosupport, the

curved ends thereof permitting the vehicle to be carried up and do'wnsteps with the rear wheels clearing the runner, and the front wheelspositioned so that they will not project far enough to strike curbs andthe like These runners 1 and 2 are connected with each other bytransverse brace bars 5 and 6 here shown arranged at their oppositeends. These connected runners are supported on the front and rear axlesA and i by means of a toggle frame which is adapted to be opened andclosedfor lowering and raising the runners. This toggle frame iscomposed of two side-members 7 yand 8 yconnected by a rearcross bar 9which is positioned to be actuated by the foot of the .operator todispose the runners in either raised or lowered position as desired.These side members 7 and 8 are exactly alike and hence one only will bedescribed in detail. Each of -said members comprises a pair of frontlinks 10 and 11 and a pair of rear links l12 and 13' connected in amanner to be describedand all Yof which are of the same length. vTherfront links 10 and 11 are pivotally connected at one end with eachother and with the free end of the side bar 14 of a horizontalsubstantially lU-shaped `frame, the cross bar 9 of which connectsthe twomembers V' T and 8. The free end of link 10 is pivotally connected. withthe front axle A near one end and the free end of link 11 is pivoted tothe runner 1 near its upturned portion at its front end.

Vat

The rear links 12 and 13 are p ivotally connected at their inner endswith each other and with side bar 14 a distance from the front endofsaid bar 14 equal to the distance between the axles, the cross bar 9being disposed some distance beyond the point of connection of the rearlinks 12 and 13 with the bar 14.

A link 16 is pivoted to one end of the runner side bar 3 and at itsother end to the upper end of link 12 and when so positioned preventsany possibility of the'carriage lowering due to the passage of therunners over rough snow or other obstructions or to their sudden passageon to a dry spot.

From the above description, it will be and 13' at one side of thecarriage, and the other similarly connected with the corresponding linksat the opposite side of the carriage and with the cross bar 9 connectingthe two side members 7 and 8 of which these bars 14 and 15 :constitute apart.

A stop 17 is disposed on the inner face of each link'16 near' its lowerend and is adapted to: be engaged by a bumper 18 on each bar 14 and 15adjacent their rear ends so that when so engaged the runner frame willbe held against further forward movement. This engagement occurs whenthe links 1D and 11, and 12 and 13 are in. alinement, and therebyforming rigid supports for connecting the runners of the carriage.

A coiled spring 19 is attached to each run- I ner, beinghere shownconnected to the longitudinal bar 3 near the rear of the sledattachment, as indicated at 20, and is designed to hold said runnerattachment up close to the axles when in inoperative position, and whenlowered the weight of the carriage and the pull of the springs holds thetoggle links 10, 11, 12 and 13 kinked in', the forward position, orbeyond the centeri with the stop 17 on link 16 abutting stop 18 .on theU-shaped frame. By drawing back on the cross bar 9 which constitutes afoot lever which extends across from `side to side *at the rear of thecarriage, the toggle links l pos1tio'n, the weight of the carriage andthe pull of the vsprings change the runners to inoperative position andhold them suspend- -ed as shown in Fig. 2.

To lower the runner attachment, the cross y bar 9 is pressed downwardlyand forwardly by the foot of the operator until the stop 18 engages thestop 17 on the link 16, and when this occurs the toggle links are kinkedAforward and so held' by the tension of the springs andthe weight of thecarriage as shown in Fig. 1.

From the above description it will be obvious that this improved sledattachment while normally carried by the carriage may be readilythrowninto and out of operative position when it 1s desired to use thecarriage as a sled, and coperating means on said attachment for limitingthe forward movement of said runners.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a vehicle having front and rear axles carryingwheels and a supporting frame, of Aa runner attachment thereforincluding laterally spaced connected runners, toggle links connectedwith said runners and said supporting frame, .and an operating memberconnected with said toginsasee gle links and movable back and forth toopcrate said links for raising and lowering said runners, ,andcoperating means on said attachment for limiting the forward movement ofsaid runners.

2.- The combination with a vehicle having front-and rear axles carryingwheels and a supporting frame, of a runner attachment therefor includinglaterally spaced connected runners, toggle links connected with saidrunners and said supporting frame, an operating member connected withsaid toggle links and movable back and forth to operate said links forraising and lowering said runners, a coiled spring connected with saidrunners and with said frame for holding the runners in retractedposition, and means for controlling the forward movement of saidrunners.

3. The combination with a vehicle having front and rear axles carryingwheels and a body supporting frame, laterally spaced connected runners,a pair of togglelinks connected at one end to each of said runners inlon udinally spaced relation and connected at t eir other ends to saidaxles, an operating lever connected with the knuckles of saidy togglelevers, and means for holding said runners in retracted position, andlinks connected to hold said toggle links against collapse. v

fl. The combinationwith a vehicle having front and rear axles carryingwheels and a body supporting frame, laterally spaced connected runners,a pair of toggle links connected at one end to each of said runners inlongitudinally spaced relation and connected at their other ends to saidaxles, a substantially U-shaped operating lever having the side armsthereof connected to the knuckles of said toggle links at oppositesidesof the attachment, the cross bar of said leverbeing disposed at therear of the carriage in position to be actuated by the foot yof theuser, and means for limiting the opening movement of said links.

' 5. he combination with a vehicle having front' and rear axles carryingwheels and a body supporting frame, laterally spaced connected runners,a pair of toggle links connected at one end to each of said runners inlongitudinally .spaced relation and connected at their other ends tosaid axles, a substantially U-'shaped operating lever having the side'arms thereof connected to the knuckles of said toggle links at oppositesides of the attachment, the cross bar of said operating lever beingdisposed at the rear of the carriage in position to be actuated by thefoot of the user, links connecting the rear ends of said runners withthe rear pair of toggle links, and cooperating stops on said connectinglinks and operating lever for limiting the lowering movement of saidattachment.

,l 6. A runner attachment for vehicles comprising a pair of laterallyspaced rigidly connected runners having upwardly 'curved ends, alongitudinallyl extending bar connecting the ends of `each runner,longitudi nally spaced pairs of toggle links connected at one end toeach runner and at their opposite ends to the axles of the vehicle,links pivotally connected at one end to the rear ends of thelongitudinal bars of each runner and at their other ends to the rearpair of toggle links at 'a point adjacent their connections with 'thevehicle, an actuating lever for operating said toggle links to raise andat one end to each runner and at their oppoi site ends to the axles ofthe vehicle, links pivotally. connected at one end to the rear ends ofthe longitudinal bars of each runner and at their other ends to the rearpair of toggle links at a point adjacent their con- 'nection with thevehicle, an actuating lever for operating said toggle links to raise andlower the runners, means for holding said attachment in retractedposition, coperating stops on said connecting links, and actuatingylever for limiting the opening movement of said toggle links.

8. 'A runner attachment for vehicles comprising a pair of laterally`spaced. rigidly connected runners having upwardly curved ends, alongitudinal bar connecting the ends of each runner, a lU-(shapedvdfrairne having pairs of toggle links pivotally connected at one endwith each other and with each arm of said frame at longitudinally spacedpoints, the free ends of each pair of links being pivotally connectedwith the runner and having means for connection with avehicle axle, andcooperating means adapted forv interlocking engagement to limit thelowering movement of the runners.

In testimony whereof 'lf have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. t

EDWIN ARTHUR THOMAS. 'i Witnesses:

Gmo. W. THOMAS, V. M

